Red Eclipse

No more gods and no more masters, burn the bodies and scatter the ashes.

Winter, the Demon Lord

Description:

A Demon Lord of ice, banished back to the Abyss by the party with the aid of Darley.

Names: Winter, Gargithaz, Jazaral

Winter, first round:
“Foolish drow, this city is mine. I will slay you all and claim your souls!” Movement action: He stands. Standard action: casts a spell.

Queen of the Shadow Court reacting to Winter:
A burst of shadow erupts from the center of the room and a vision appears: a beautiful fey woman with black hair below a crown of mithral and glowing starstones. Her cloak is pure black, and her indigo dress is set with countless diamonds that sparkle despite the gloom around her. Four lantern dragonettes curled around her feet stand up and hiss at you. She speaks in a commanding tone that leaves the impression she is not used to being questioned or disregarded, “The holy shrine of Cadensong is under the protection of the Summer Palace and the Thorn Guard. Know that spilling any blood here is forbidden and will incur the wrath of the Bride of Shadows.”

Darley:
“Stand back! None can interfere with the prophecy. My champions will fulfill their destiny.”

Queen:
Laughs, “None can know the true meaning of the prophecies. And prophecy does not cater to the whims of any — not even the gods.”

Winter:
“ENOUGH! I shall slay you all!”

Darley’s Action: unleashes Veil of the Night, creating a wall of darkness over the party, blocking sight from the balconies and the sunlight from the central skylight.

When blood was first drawn:
Queen, Interrupt:

In a cold, disinterested voice: “Thorn Guard — destroy them all”

Walls of briars erupt throughout the room, walling off the factions from each other

When the Thorn Guard were struck down:
Darley drops down among the party, “The Queen of Night and Magic is gone — her power here is lost. There is only us and Winter.”

Darley then spoke: “The Shadows Revive You” — all Heroes receive Shadow of Renewal, gain 1 healing surge and heal as if they’ve had a short rest.

The final line of briars is blasted apart, “ENOUGH OF THISWITCHCRAFT!” Winter shouts as he crashes through. The black fog over you is scattered to the wind allowing daylight to once again fill the hall from the central glass ceiling. The briars are left in tatters, creating occasional lumps of inaccessible terrain.

Winter:
Charges Roland, “I will torture your souls for 100 years!”

Darley:
A woman dressed in black and armed with 2 short swords appears next to Andra and hands her a scroll, “The Abyss is a pit of corruption and lies. Use this now, while I distract him. Do not believe a word he says. And when the sky turns black, run from me and know this path is my own making.”

The woman speaks, “Your time has come to an end, Gargithaz.” At hearing his name spoken, Winter’s head snaps back and his eyes flicker with fear.

She speaks, “The Sea Witch has made the prophecy real.”

Darley moves towards Winter as her arms lengthen and she lopes like a gorilla.

Roland hears a voice in his head “I am Veland Windwalker — and we are not done here”.
Roland’s monk skills surge as he is fully healed. Roland leaps beyond the Balazau and joins Darley attacking Winter.

Winter shouts: “Stop! Windwalker, Stop!”

Andra reads the ritual scroll from Darley, it is beyond Andra’s power, draining her healing surges as she performs the magic.

Round 1: spend a healing surge
You begin the ritual, the arcane power is extremely potent with the power of the demon’s name. Its power would be beyond you, but the creator devised enhancements that allow you to not lose control.

Darley begins her attack by growing into a large abomination. Twin tentacles of shadow lash out and latch onto the demon. Her arms have consumed her short swords and are now twice the length of her body with jagged teeth in two rows on either side of her arm. She attacks with these like they were saw blades, grunting and snarling.

Winter:
“Windwalker! Herald! Call her off of me!” — he attacks Darley.

Misthowl, an Air Elemental summoned by Winter battles the party.

The sky is rippling with lightning, black clouds boil in the sky above you.

Darley shouts “Don’t stop, Andra! Do. Not. Stop!”

Round 2: spend a healing surge
The arcane power burns your mind as you continue. The demon’s name echoes in your head making it difficult to concentrate on your task.

Round 3: spend a healing surge
The work is exhausting. Not only is the name Gargithaz in the scroll, but it is now obvious somebody had to acquire some of his demonic essence for this scroll to be created.

Round 4: spend a healing surge
You unleash the full power of the ritual. The magic lashes out at the demon, binding him to the Abyss where he will have to remain for a year and a day.

Darley:
“This isn’t over, Gargithaz. I walk the Abyss and will find you. Keep one eye on your back. Always.”
As she speaks, the teeth on her arms shrink down to nubs and fade to nothing.
A black flash of mist surrounds Darley and she is gone.

The clouds above churn and turn the sky into night. The wind gusts and you hear a high-pitched scream from high above you.

Lightning crashes down from the sky, striking where Darley had been standing. The force of the impact rolls out, pushing players 4 squares, and knocking them prone.

The demon stands sullen and bow its head. “Banish me as you must. I know my time on Terravin is over.”

He looks up for a moment, a wicked grin flashes across his face, “I may be out of the game, but that doesn’t mean I can’t pick a new favorite to win the war.”

The demon roars and a ring of elemental energy blasts out. It washes over you, making your hair stand on end. Your vision sparkles for a moment and then you see over you three beholders, black metal straps are lashed over them and blue crystals glowing with light. With you looking at them, they gape in surprise and fear, then an instant later they explode in blasts of gore.
“I’m no fool and will not fight the Virozoth prophecies. Tell Fire’s Keeper she only won because of Network 27.”

The Demon holds up a glowing stone, “These ”/campaigns/redeclipse/items/moongate-embers" class=“wiki-content-link”>Moongate Embers are the key to your freedom. The Demon Gate guardian has two. I would assume each Darklord has one. One is lost in Tenara (Haven 2). There are rumors of others. Maybe even Fire’s Keeper if you’re lucky."

Arcane energy has bubbled out of the air around him and is straining against his hulking form, “Some tips for you, Guilders: when you reach the Abyss, don’t try to find me. You need to trust and embrace the prophecies. The Virozoth are dangerous but they do tell of the end of Shanara Wildwind just as they told of my leaving Terravin today.”

As the demon is banished, there is a flash and an arcane inversion of power that gathers and snaps into a single bolt that strikes the place the demon was standing. A blast of shards rains down on the party (+10 vs reflex, D8 damage).

As the party regains their feet, Minyra’s dagger twitches in her hand and draws Minyra toward one of the shards. Minyra sees that while the other dark purple shards have faded to black, one has a silver spark inside it, flashing as if it were a small flame.

Minyra hears Darley’s voice, “Claim your birthright, demon. Become the blade of suspicion among the Dark Lord’s chosen. Become the shadow that moves in their fortress. Stand up for those that cannot defend themselves.”